Isomerization of xylene

ABSTRACT

In a process for isomerization of xylenes which comprises contactng an aromatic hydrocarbon stock mainly containing xylene isomers not attaining a thermodynamic equilibrium composition with a catalyst composition containing a crystalline aluminosilicate at an elevated temperature in the vapor phase in the presence of hydrogen, the improvement wherein said catalyst composition comprises a crystalline aluminosilicate having a silica/alumina mole ratio of at least 10 and contains at least two metals which are (a) platinum and (b) at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, zinc, gallium, germanium, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, tin, barium, cesium, cerium, tungsten, osmium, lead, cadmium, mercury, indium, lanthanum, beryllium, lithium and rubidium.

This invention relates to an improvement in the isomerization of xylene. More specifically, it relates to a process for producing an aromatic hydrocarbon composition having a high concentration of p-xylene by isomerizing an aromatic hydrocarbon stock mainly containing xylene isomers not attaining a thermodynamic equilibrium composition, especially xylene isomers containing ethylbenzene and also containing p-xylene in a concentration below the thermodynamic equilibrium composition of the xylene isomers; and to a platinum-zeolite type catalyst for use in the aforesaid process which has an inhibited ability to hydrogenate the benzene ring and does not induce undesirable side-reactions.

Isomerization of xylene is industrially performed by the steps, in suitable combinations, of isomerizing an aromatic hydrocarbon stock containing mainly xylene isomers, separating a specified xylene isomer, normally p-xylene, from the resulting isomerization reaction mixture, and recycling the mixture left after the separation. It is industrially significant in this case, for an increased efficiency of the isomerization reaction and a reduced cost of production, to adjust the composition of the xylene isomers in the isomerization reaction product as closely as possible to the thermodynamic equilibrium composition, and to inhibit side-reactions such as the decomposition of xylene (particularly, the hydrogenation of the benzene ring) and disproportionation reaction.

Many methods for isomerizing xylenes have been suggested in the past, and many of them involve the use of a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite-containing catalyst. Extensive work has been done to improve and develop catalysts and improve the isomerization reaction conditions in regard to the aforesaid prior methods, and a number of suggestions have been made as a result of such work. In particular, much research efforts have been concentrated on methods involving changing the shape or structure of the zeolite catalyst itself; methods involving modifying the zeolite catalyst by subjecting it to a physical treatment, for example heat-treatment, and methods involving chemically modifying the zeolite catalyst by adding various ingredients. For example, there have been suggested a method in which Y-type zeolite is treated with super heated steam to improve its activity and stability (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,630), and a method in which MoO₃ is supported on offretite to improve its activity to decompose ethylbenzene (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,009).

None of the prior suggested catalysts for isomerization of xylenes completely meets two contradictory requirements (a) and (b) below. (a) To have superior activity on the isomerization of xylenes, and (b) to greatly reduce undesirable side-reactions (such as the hydrogenation of the benzene ring, hydrogenolysis, demethylation, and particularly disproportionation and transalkylation).

In the case of isomerizing xylene isomers containing ethylbenzene, it is desirable to deethylate ethylbenzene in addition to the isomerization reaction of the xylenes, and some methods for this purpose have been suggested, for example as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,098,836, 4,163,028, and 4,152,363.

In the previously suggested methods, however, undesirable side-reactions such as hydrogenation of the benzene ring, disproportionation of xylene and transalkylation of xylene and ethylbenzene take place in addition to the isomerization of xylenes and the deethylation of ethylbenzene, and a loss of xylenes cannot be avoided.

For example, the aforesaid three U.S. Patents disclose a method for isomerizing xylene isomers containing ethylbenzene using ZSM-series zeolites modified with a metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table such as platinum or nickel. With ZSM-series zeolite catalysts modified with nickel (with a nickel content of at least 2% by weight), demethylation of xylene is promoted under severe reaction conditions in which the conversion of ethylbenzene is high, and a loss of xylene increases. It has therefore been considered to be advantageous in industrial operation to use a platinum-group metal which induces little demethylation. ZSM-series zeolites modified with platinum have superior activity of isomerizing xylenes and superior ability to deethylate ethylbenzene selectively. However, platinum itself has a high ability to hydrogenate the benzene ring, and the hydrogenation occurs markedly as the temperature decreases owing to thermodynamic equilibrium. Consequently the amount of naphthenes formed increases and a loss of xylene increases. Accordingly, ZSM-type zeolite catalysts modified with platinum need to be used in industrial applications at temperatures of as high as more than 800° F. (427° C.). The temperature required for the isomerization reaction is affected by the space velocity, but generally, temperatures of about 300° to 340° C. are sufficient. At high temperatures, the isomerization is not improved, but rather undesirable side-reactions such as disproportionation and transalkylation are promoted to cause an increased loss of xylenes.

In order to avoid such undesirable reactions as much as possible, a method has also been suggested in which the space velocity based on the zeolite catalyst is increased to increase the optimum isomerization temperature to a level higher than in ordinary methods and therefore to promote deethylation while inhibiting a loss of xylenes attributed to disproportionation, etc. (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,363). With this method, however, it is difficult to maintain the isomerization at a high level, and the degradation of the catalyst increases because the temperature and the space velocity are high.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel and improved process for isomerization of xylenes, which is free from the aforesaid defects associated with the isomerization of xylenes with platinum-containing ZSM-series zeolite catalysts.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved platinum-zeolite catalyst which is significantly free from the defects of the platinum-containing ZSM-series zeolite catalysts, such as their ability to catalyze the hydrogenation of the benzene ring, the disproportionation of xylene and the transalkylation reaction of xylene and ethylbenzene, while retaining their superior ability to isomerize xylene and to selectively deethylate ethylbenzene.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description.

According to this invention, there is provided, in a process for isomerizing xylenes which comprises contacting an aromatic hydrocarbon stock mainly containing a xylene isomers not attaining a thermodynamic equilibrium composition with a catalyst composition containing a crystalline alumino-silicate at an elevated temperature in the vapor phase in the presence of hydrogen, the improvement wherein said catalyst composition comprises a crystalline aluminosilicate having a silica/alumina mole ratio of at least 10 and contains at least two metals which are (a) platinum and (b) at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, zinc, gallium, germanium, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, tin, barium, cesium, cerium, tungsten, osmium, lead, cadmium, mercury, indium, lanthanum, beryllium, lithium and rubidium.

The characteristic feature of the process of this invention is the use of a platinum-zeolite catalyst composition which comprises a crystalline aluminosilicate having a silica/alumina mole ratio of at least 10 and contains at least two metals which are platinum and at least one other specified metal.

The crystalline aluminosilicate(to be sometimes referred to as zeolite) forming the base of the catalyst used in this invention contains mainly hydrogen or a hydrogen precursor such as an ammonium ion at a cation site and has a silica/alumina mole ratio of at least 10, preferably from 20 to 1000, more preferably from 30 to 200. In other words, a so-called high-silica zeolite having a high content of silica relative to alumina is used as a base of the catalyst. Many zeolites having a high silica content relative to alumina have been suggested heretofore, and a zeolite having an extremely high silica content represented by a silica/alumina mole ratio of as high as 2,000 is also known. In the present invention, there is conveniently used a high-silica zeolite which has a relatively low silica/alumina ratio and therefore, has a relatively high acid activity attributed to the alumina component.

Any known high-silica zeolites can be used in this invention if their silica/alumina mole ratio is within the above-specified range.

Typical examples of crystalline aluminosilicates or zeolites that can be used in this invention as a catalyst base include various ZSM series zeolites developed by Mobil Oil Corporation, and zeta-series zeolites developed by Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd. The ZSM series zeolites are preferred.

Examples of ZSM-series zeolites are ZSM-5 (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,886) ZSM-11 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,979), ZSM-12 (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,449), ZSM-35 (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,245) and ZSM-38 (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,859). Examples of zeta-series zeolites are zeta 1 (see German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2,548,697), and zeta 3 (see German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2,548,695).

TP-1 series zeolites discovered by the present inventors as high-silica zeolites (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 137,500/79) can also be used. These TP-1 series zeolites are obtained by heating a starting mixture containing silica, alumina, alkali metals and water at a temperature and for a time sufficient for the formation of crystalline aluminosilicates by using organic sulfur compounds such as thiols, sulfides, sulfoxides, sulfones or thiophenes. The properties of these TP-1 series zeolites and their production are described in detail in the specification of the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication cited above.

These zeolites are generally available in a form containing an alkali metal ion or an alkaline earth metal ion at the cation site. In the present invention, these zeolites are converted to H-form zeolites, and used in the form containing mainly hydrogen or a hydrogen precursor at the cation site. Accordingly, unless otherwise specified "zeolite", as used in the present application, denotes H-form zeolite.

It has been found that the use of ZSM-5 zeolite as a base of catalyst produces the best effect. Thus, according to the most preferred embodiment of this invention, ZSM-5 zeolite is used as a base of the isomerization catalyst.

In the process of this invention, there is used as an ingredient of main catalyst a product obtained by modifying the aforesaid zeolite having a specified silica/alumina mole ratio with at least two metals which are (a) platinum [to be referred to as metal (a)], and (b) at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, zinc, gallium, germanium, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, tin, barium, cesium, cerium, tungsten, osmium, lead, cadmium, mercury, indium, lanthanum, beryllium, lithium and rubidium (to be referred to as metal (b)).

Investigations of the present inventors have led to the surprising discovery that zeolite catalysts modified with only platinum have superior ability to isomerize xylenes but at the same time, catalyze undesirable reactions such as the hydrogenation of the benzene ring and the demethylation of xylenes and these catalytic reactions cause an increased loss of xylenes in the isomerization of xylenes, but that when both platinum [metal (a)] and metal (b) are incorporated together into zeolite, the resulting catalyst retains the high ability to isomerize xylenes which the zeolite having only metal (a) incorporated therein possesses, and its undesirable catalytic reaction on such reactions as the hydrogenation of the benzene ring and the demethylation of xylenes can be effectively inhibited.

Tin, barium, titanium, indium and cadmium are preferred as metal (b) because they have the great ability to inhibit the side-reactions.

The term "modified with the metals (a) and (b)", as used herein, means that the metals (a) and (b) are ion-exchanged at the cation site of zeolite and/or the metals (a) and (b) or compounds containing them are physically deposited on the surface of zeolite.

Zeolites modified with metals (a) and (b) may be prepared by methods generally known in the modification of zeolites with metals. Modification with metal (a) and modification with metal (b) may be performed separately in the desired order, or simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment, modification with metal (b) is carried out after the modification with metal (a).

To facillitate understanding, typical examples of the modifying method are described below in detail.

Commercially available zeolites generally have alkali metal ions or alkaline earth metal ions such as Na, K or Ca substituted at the cation site thereof. Hence, the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ion is exchanged with hydrogen or an ammonium ion. This exchange may be performed simultaneously with, or prior to, the modification with metal (a).

One method comprises dipping a zeolite having its cation site substituted with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ion in an aqueous solution containing a metal (a) ion and an ammonium ion to give a zeolite product which is modified with the metal (a) and in which a greater portion of the cation site is of the ammonium ion form. Calcination of the resulting ammonium ion-form zeolite modified with the metal (a) at a temperature of about 200° to 600° C. gives a hydrogen ion-form zeolite modified with the metal (a).

Another method comprises treating a zeolite having its cation site substituted with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ion with an inorganic or organic acid such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid or oxalic acid to convert a greater portion of the cation site to a hydrogen ion form, and exchanging the hydrogen ion with a metal (a) ion or depositing the metal (a) on the resulting zeolite.

Still another method comprises treating a zeolite having its cation site substituted by an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ion with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble ammonium compound to form a zeolite having a greater portion of its cation site substituted with an ammonium ion, which zeolite is then optionally converted to an H-form zeolite by calcination at a temperature of, for example, about 200° to about 600° C., and finally exchanging the ammonium ion or hydrogen ion with a metal (a) ion, or depositing the metal (a) on the ammonium ion-type or hydrogen ion-type zeolite. In this method, substitution by an ammonium ion can be easily carried out by contacting the zeolite with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble ammonium compound such as ammonium chloride or ammonium nitrate in a concentration of 5 to 20% by weight.

Ion exchange of zeolite with a metal (a) and/or deposition of the metal (a) on the zeolite can be performed by techniques known to be used in subjecting ordinary zeolites to ion exchange with metal (a) or in depositing noble metal (a) on such zeolites.

For example, a zeolite to be treated is contacted with an aqueous or non-aqueous medium containing a compound of the desired noble metal dissolved therein. Such noble metal compounds include the halides, oxides, sulfides, oxy acid salts, and complexes. When zeolite is modified with metal (a) (platinum) the zeolite may be impregnated with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble platinum compound (such as H₂ PtCl₆, or PtCl₂) and then water is evaporated off to deposit platinum on the zeolite. Or the zeolite may be dipped in an aqueous solution of a platinum compound having ion exchange ability such as a platinum-ammine complex [e.g., Pt(NH₃)₄ Cl₂ ], and then subjected to filtration, followed by sufficient washing. As a result, the zeolite is ion-exchanged with a platinum cation.

Prior to the modification treatment with metal (a), zeolite may be heated for 1 to 50 hours in an oxygen atmosphere such as air or an inert gaseous atmosphere such as nitrogen at a temperature of 100° to 700° C., preferably 200° to 600° C. This generally gives better catalysts.

The zeolite modified with metal (a) may be heated in an oxygen-containing atmosphere such as air or an inert gaseous atmosphere such as nitrogen at a temperature of 100° to 700° C., preferably 200° to 600° C., for about 1 to about 5 hours. This heat-treatment is preferred in this invention.

The zeolite modified with metal (a) in the above manner is then modified with metal (b). Modification with metal (b) may be carried out by the same method and under the same conditions as in the modification with metal (a) described hereinabove. Accordingly, the modification with metal (b) is not particularly different from usually known methods for preparing modified zeolites using various methods.

Examples of the various metal compounds used to perform modification with metal (b) are given below. These examples are merely illustrative, and it should be understood that any water-soluble or solvent-soluble compounds of the respective metals can be equally used even if they are not specifically exemplified herein.

(1) Titanium Compounds

Titanium fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide sulfate and nitrate, ammonium hexafluorotitanate, ammonium pentafluoroperoxotitanate, ammonium hexachlorotitanate, diethyl ammonium hexachlorotitanate and hexabromotitanate, and bis(acetonitrile)tetrachlorotitanium.

(2) Chromium Compounds

Chromous chloride, chromous sulfate, chromous acetate, chromic chloride, chromic nitrate, chromic sulfate, hexammine chromic compound, dichromic acid, and ammonium dichromate.

(3) Germanium Compounds

Germanium tetrachloride, germanium dichloride, and germanium tetraalkyl.

(4) Molybdenum compounds

Molybdic acid, ammonium molybdate, and molybdenum pentachloride.

(5) Palladium Compounds

Palladium chloride, palladium sulfate, palladium nitrate, and tetraammine palladium chloride.

(6) Tin Compounds

Stannous chloride, tin tetrachloride, chlorostannous acid, tin tetraalkyl, ammonium hexachlorostannate, and tetraethylammonium trichlorostannate.

(7) Barium Compounds

Barium fluoride, chloride, chlorate perchlorate, bromide, bromate, iodide, thiosulfate, dithionate, sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, carbonate, thiocyanate, metasilicate, acetate, hydroxide, formate, hydrogenphosphate, lactate, oxalate, nitrile and sulfite.

(10) Tungsten Compounds

Tungstic acid, and ammonium paratungstate.

(11) Osmium Compounds

Osmic acid, and osmium tetrachloride.

(12) Lead Compounds

Lead acetate, lead nitrate, lead chlorate, and lead tetraalkyl.

(13) Cadmium Compounds

Cadmium chloride, perchlorate, bromide, iodide, sulfate, nitrate, cyanide, thiocyanate, carbonate, formate, hydroxide and sulfide, tris(ethylenediamine) cadmium nitrate, and dichloro(ethylenediamine)cadmium.

(14) Indium Compounds

Indium fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, perchlorate, sulfate and nitrate, ammonium hexafluoroindate, and ammonium aquapentachloroindate.

(15) Other Metal Compounds

Compounds of strontium, beryllium, gallium, yttrium, zirconium, rubidium, cesium, zinc, cerium, lithium, lanthanum, and mercury, such as the corresponding fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, perchlorates, cyanides, sulfates, nitrates, nitrites, sulfides, acetates, oxalates, formates, lactates, citrates, carbonates, phosphates, thiocyanates, thiosulfates, hydroxides, oxides, chlorates, chlorites, iodate, and various kinds of complex compounds thereof.

The resulting metal-modified zeolite can be used in isomerization reaction either in the form of a fine powder, or after optionally shaping it into the various desired shapes such as pellets or tablets as is the case with the customary practice. A shaped article of the modified zeolite can be obtained in a customary manner by mixing the modified zeolite with a synthetic or natural refractory inorganic oxide usually employed as a binder for zeolite-type catalysts, such as silica, alumina, silica-alumina, kaolin or silica-magnesia, shaping the mixture into the desired configuration, and then calcining the shaped article. Advantageously, the amount of the modified zeolite as an active catalyst ingredient in the shaped article is generally 1 to 99% by weight, preferably 10 to 90% by weight, based on the weight of the shaped article.

In use, the catalyst composed of zeolite modified with metal (a) and metal (b) prepared in the above-mentioned manner is treated in a reducing atmosphere such as a hydrogen gas at a temperature of 200° to 600° C., preferably 250° to 550° C. This reducingtreatment is usually carried out after the catalyst has been filled in a reactor for isomerization.

The contents of the metals (a) and (b) in the zeolite modified with the metals (a) and (b) in accordance with this invention can be varied depending upon the type of the metal used. The content of metal (a) is generally 0.001 to 2% by weight, preferably 0.005 to 1.5% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 1% by weight, based on the weight of the crystalline aluminosilicate. The content of the metal (b) is such that the atomic ratio of metal (a) to metal (b) is generally from 1:0.01 to 1:10, preferably from 1:0.05 to 1.5, more preferably from 1:0.1 to 1:3.

The catalyst of this invention so prepared contains the metal (a) in the form of a cation and/or oxide and the metal (b) in the form of a cation and/or oxide depending upon the type of metal, before it is reduced prior to use in the isomerization reaction. When the catalyst is reduced prior to use in the isomerization reaction, the metal (a) is converted to an elemental form, and the metal (b), to an element, oxide or cation, or mixtures thereof.

The zeolite catalyst in accordance with this invention can be used in the isomerization of xylenes in the form of fine powder or in various other desired shapes such as pellets or tablets molded in a customary manner. A shaped article of the modified zeolite can be obtained in a customary manner by mixing the modified zeolite with a synthetic or natural refractory inorganic oxide usually employed as a binder for zeolite-type catalysts, such as silica, alumina, silica-alumina, kaolin or silica-magnesia, shaping the mixture into the desired configuration, and then calcining the shaped article. Advantageously, the amount of the modified zeolite as an active catalyst ingredient in the shaped article is generally 1 to 99% by weight, preferably 10 to 90% by weight, based on the weight of the shaped article.

In use, the catalyst composed of zeolite modified with the metals (a) and (b) prepared in the above-mentioned manner is treated in a reducing atmosphere such as a hydrogen gas at a temperature of 200° to 600° C., preferably 250° to 550° C. This reducing treatment is usually carried out after the catalyst has been filled in a reactor for isomerization of xylenes.

The catalyst composed of a high-silica crystalline aluminosilicate containing a noble metal prepared in the above manner can be used as in isomerization catalyst in isomerizing an aromatic hydrocarbon stock containing predominantly xylene isomers not attaining a thermodynamic equilibrium composition at an elevated temperature in the vapor phase in the presence of hydrogen.

The aromatic hydrocarbon stock to be used in the isomerization of xylenes in this invention predominantly contains xylene isomers which has not attained a thermodynamic equilibrium composition. As is well known, xylene contains three isomers, ortho-, meta- and paraisomers. It is known that when a mixture in an arbitrary ratio of the three isomers is subjected to an isomerization reaction, the reaction reaches an equilibrium when the ratio among the three isomers attains a certain specific value, and apparently no further advance of the isomerization is noted. The composition of the xylene isomers at such an equilibrium state is called the "thermodynamic equilibrium composition". The thermodynamic equilibrium composition varies slightly depending upon temperature, and for example, the xylene isomers have the following thermodynamic equilibrium composition at the following temperature.

    ______________________________________                                         (I)       Mixture consisting only of three xylene                                        isomers                                                                        (at 427° C.):-                                                        p-Xylene   23.4% by weight                                                     m-Xylene   52.1% by weight                                                     o-Xylene   24.5% by weight                                             (II)      Mixture of xylene isomers and ethylbenzene                                     (at 427° C.):-                                                        Ethylbenzene                                                                               8.3% by weight                                                     p-Xylene   21.5% by weight                                                     m-Xylene   47.8% by weight                                                     o-Xylene   22.4% by weight                                                                100% by weight in total                                     ______________________________________                                    

In the present specification and the appended claims, the term "xylene isomeric mixture not attaining a thermodynamic equilibrium composition" denotes a xylene isomers in which the concentration of at least one of the three xylene isomers falls outside the thermodynamic equilibrium composition.

The aromatic hydrocarbon stock to be used as a starting material in the process of this invention may consist only of the xylene isomers, or may be a mixture of the xylene isomers with another aromatic hydrocarbon such as ethylbenzene, benzene, toluene, ethyltoluene, trimethylbenzene, diethylbenzene, ethylxylene, and tetramethylbenzene. In the latter case, the xylene isomeric mixture is present desirably in an amount of generally at least 30% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, based on the weight of the aromatic hydrocarbon stock.

C₈ aromatic hydrocarbon fractions obtained by reforming, thermal cracking or hydrocracking of naphtha can be used especially advantageously as the aromatic hydrocarbon stock in the process of this invention. These fractions contain ethylbenzene of the same number of carbons in addition to the xylene isomers. Very good results can be obtained in the process of this invention when using a C₈ -aromatic hydrocarbon fraction which contains the xylene isomers and ethylbenzene in a total amount of at least 80%, preferably at least 90% by weight, based on the weight of the fraction.

Isomerization of the aromatic hydrocarbon stock can be performed under known reaction conditions except that the above-specified catalyst is used. The reaction temperature is generally 250° to 450° C., preferably 270° to 400° C., especially preferably 280° to 380° C., and the partial pressure of hydrogen is generally 0 to 25 kg/cm².G, preferably 0 to 20 kg/cm².G, especially preferably 0 to 12 kg/cm².G.

In the practice of the process of this invention, the starting aromatic hydrocarbon stock is fed at a rate which can be varied widely according to the type of the hydrocarbon stock used, the type of the catalyst, etc. It is generally advantageous to feed the hydrocarbon stock at a weight hourly space velocity of about 1 to 500, preferably 2 to 100, more preferably 3 to 50.

In the present specification and appended claims, the "weight hourly space velocity" is a value calculated in accordance with the following equation.

    Weight of the starting hydrocarbon stock fed per hour/Weight of the catalyst

The "weight of the catalyst, " as used herein, denotes the weight of crystalline aluminosilicate which forms the base of the catalyst.

The isomerization reaction of this invention is carried out in the presence of hydrogen. The rate of feeding hydrogen in this case can be varied widely according to the type of the aromatic hydrocarbon material and/or the catalyst, etc. Generally, it is appropriate to feed hydrogen at such a rate that the hydrogen/hydrocarbon mole ratio is generally from 0.1 to 15, preferably 1 to 10, more preferably from 1 to 8.

The process of this invention brings about the following excellent technical advantages over similar conventional techniques, and can contribute greatly to industry.

(1) Since the demethylation of xylene can be markedly inhibited, the loss of xylene is decreased drastically, and the isomerization yield of xylene increases.

(2) Since the process can be operated under an elevated hydrogen partial pressure, the efficiency of the xylene manufacturing facilities can be greatly increased.

(3) Coke formation on a catalyst can be inhibited, and the operating efficiency of the apparatus can be improved greatly.

The following Examples illustrate the present invention in greater detail.

EXAMPLE 1

(a) Preparation of H-ZSM-5

Zeolite ZSM-5 was synthesized in accordance with the method disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,207. In the synthesis, n-tripropylamine and n-propyl bromide were added as a source of an organic nitrogen cation. The synthesized product was identified as ZSM-5 from its X-ray diffraction pattern. The resulting ZSM-5 was filtered, and fully washed with water. It was dried in a drying oven at 100° C. for 8 hours, and then at 200° C. for 16 hours, and then calcined in an electric muffle furnace under an air stream at 450° C. for 16 hours. Then, 250 g of the calcined product was subjected to ion-exchange at 80° C. for 24 hours using 1.5 liters of a 5% by weight aqueous solution of ammonium chloride. Futher this procedure was repeated two times. Then, the product was thoroughly washed with water, dried in a drying oven at 100° C. for 8 hours and 200° C. for 16 hours, and in an electric muffle furnace under a stream of air at 450° C. for 16 hours to obtain H⁺ --form zeolite ZSM-5 which contained 0.05% by weight of sodium and had a silica/alumina mole ratio of 92.

(b) Preparation of Pt/ZSM-5

0.173 g of [Pt(NH₃)₄ ]Cl₂ was dissolved in 90 cc of water, and 30 g of the H⁺ --form ZSM-5 obtained by the method shown in (a) above was added. With occasional shaking, the zeolite was immersed therein at 50° C. for 8 hours, then filtered, washed fully with water at room temperature, and dried in an drying oven at 100° C. for 8 hours and then at 200° C. for 16 hours. It was calcined in an electric muffle furnace under a stream of air at 450° C. for 8 hours to afford Pt/ZSM-5 which contained 0.24%, based on the total weight of the catalyst, of platinum (this catalyst is referred to as catalyst A).

(c) Preparation of Pt/ZSM-5

120 ml of 2.5% aqueous ammonia was added to 22.0 g of H-ZSM-5, and while they were sufficiently stirred with a glass rod, a solution of 0.113 g of [Pt(NH₃)₄ ]Cl₂ in 60 ml of a 2.5% aqueous ammonia was added dropwise by a pipette. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 hours using a magnetic stirrer, and then washed with deionized water until the electric conductivity of the filtrate became not more than 15 μv/cm. The product was then dried at 100° C. and 200° C. both for 4 hours, and calcined in an electric muffle furnace under a stream of air for 4 hours. The platinum content of the product was 0.28% by weight. The product is referred to as catalyst B. By a similar operation, catalyst C to H having the platinum contents shown in Table 1 were prepared.

(d) Pt-ZSM-5 with various metals supported thereon

Each of the various metal salts shown in Table 1 was weighed so that the atomic ratio of the metal to paltinum reached the prescribed values shown in Table 1, and dissolved in a suitable solvent (deionized water unless otherwise specified). To the solution was added Pt-ZSM-5 prepared as above, and the mixture was evaporated to dryness to impregnate the metal salt therein. The product was dried at 100° C. and then at 200° C., andcalcined in an electric muffle furnace under a stream of air at 450° C. to prepare powders of Pt-ZSM-5 having various metals supported thereon.

As a specific example, Pt-ZSM-5 having indium supported thereon was prepared as follows:

13.5 mg of InCl₃.4H₂ O (the atomic ratio of indium to platium corresponded to 1.2) was dissolved in 50 ml of deionized water, and 3 g of catalyst E was added. In a constant temperature bath at 70° C., the mixture was heated for 4 hours with occasional shaking. Then, using a rotary evaporator, water was distilled off at a temperature of 45° C. The solid residue was dried in a drying oven at 100° C. and 200° C. both for 4 hours, and calcined in an electric muffle furnace under a stream of nitrogen at 450° C. for 4 hours to afford a catalyst E-2.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________          Concentration  Atomic                                                     Catalyst                                                                            of platinum    ratio of                                                   series                                                                              (wt. %, based  metal (b)                                                                           Salt of metal                                         No.  on zeolite)                                                                            Metal (b)                                                                             to Pt                                                                               (b)         Solvent                                   __________________________________________________________________________     A    0.24    --     --   --          --                                        A-1  "       Germanium                                                                             0.9  GeCl.sub.4  Isopropyl alcohol                         A-2  "       Tin    0.5  SnCl.sub.2 . 2H.sub.2 O                                                                    HCl/water                                 A-3  "       Lead   0.3  Pb(NO.sub.3).sub.2                                                                         Water                                     A-4  "       Chromium                                                                              1.3  Cr(NO.sub.3).sub.3 . 9H.sub.2 O                                                            "                                         A-5  "       Molybdenum                                                                            0.7  (NH.sub.4).sub.6 Mo.sub.7 O.sub.27 . 4H.sub.2                                              "                                         A-6  "       Tungsten                                                                              0.4  (NH.sub.4).sub.10 W.sub.12 O.sub.41 . 5H.sub.2                                             "                                         A-7  "       Osmium 0.3  OsO.sub.4   "                                         A-8  "       Palladium                                                                             0.6  Pd(NH.sub.3).sub.4 Cl.sub.2                                                                "                                         B    0.27    --     --   --          --                                        B-1  "       Strontium                                                                             0.5  Sr(ClO.sub.4).sub.2 . 2H.sub.2 O                                                           Water                                     B-2  "       Beryllium                                                                             0.5  Be(NO.sub.3).sub. 2 . 3H.sub.2 O                                                           "                                         B-3  "       Gallium                                                                               0.5  Ga(NO.sub.3).sub.2 . 8H.sub.2 O                                                            "                                         B-4  "       Cerium 0.5  Ce(NO.sub.3).sub.3 . 6H.sub.2 O                                                            "                                         B-5  "       Barium 0.2  Ba(NO.sub.3).sub.2 . H.sub.2 O                                                             "                                         C    0.28    --     --   --          --                                        C-1  "       Yttrium                                                                               1.1  Y(NO.sub.3).sub.3 . 6H.sub.2 O                                                             Water                                     C-2  "       Zirconium                                                                             0.5  Zr(NO.sub.3).sub.2 . 2H.sub.2 O                                                            "                                         D    0.27    --     --   --          --                                        D-1  "       Rubidium                                                                              1.1  RbCl        Water                                     D-2  "       Cesium 1.1  CsCl        "                                         D-3  "       Zinc   1.1  Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2 . 6H.sub.2 O                                                            "                                         D-4  "       Titanium                                                                              0.5  Ti(SO.sub.4).sub.2                                                                         "                                         E    0.26    --     --   --          --                                        E-1  "       Lithium                                                                               1.2  LiNO.sub.3  Water                                     E-2  "       Indium 1.2  InCl.sub.3 . 4H.sub.2 O                                                                    "                                         E-3  "       Lanthanum                                                                             1.2  La(NO.sub.3).sub.3 . 6H.sub.2 O                                                            "                                         F    0.27    --     --   --          --                                        F-1  "       Cadmium                                                                               1.1  CdCl.sub.2 . 21/2H.sub.2 O                                                                 Water                                     G    0.25    --     --   --          --                                        G-1  "       Mercury                                                                               1.2  HgI.sub.2   acetone                                   H    0.5     --     --   --          --                                        H-1  "       Tin    0.3  SnCl.sub.2 . 2H.sub.2 O                                                                    HCl/water                                 H-2  "       Tin    3.3  SnCl.sub.2 . 2H.sub.2 O                                                                    HCl/water                                 __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 2

Chromatographic alumina gel (300 mesh) was added to each of the powdery catalysts A and A-2 obtained in Example 1 in a weight ratio of 1:1. They were well mixed and molded into a size of 10 to 20 mesh. Each of the molded products was calcined in an electric muffle furnace under a stream of air at 450° C. for 8 hours, and filled in a fixed bed reactor. Then, each of the molded catalysts was reduced in a stream of hydrogen at 400° C. for 2 hours, and subsequently, a xylene isomeric mixture having the composition shown in Table 2 was fed to the reactor.

The reaction conditions were as follows:

Temperature: 350° C.

Weight hourly space velocity (WHSV): 8.0 hr⁻¹ (based on the weight of zeolite)

Hydrogen/aromatic hydrocarbon mole ratio: 3:1

Pressure: 7.4 kg/cm².G

The composition of the product after a lapse of 50 hours from the initiation of feeding was as shown in Table 2.

It is seen from the results obtained that when tin is added as the metal (b) to Pt/ZSM-5, the approach to equilibrium of PX, which shows the degree of isomerization activity, does not at all decrease, and that while the degree of deethylation inherent to platinum is maintained at a high level, the inherent ability of platinum to hydrogenate the benzene ring and demethylate the xylenes can be drastically inhibited. Thus, a loss of xylene can be greatly decreased.

    ______________________________________                                                           Product                                                                    Feed  Catalyst A-2                                                                              Catalyst A                                                    Stock (Pt/Sn)    Pt                                              ______________________________________                                         Composition (wt. %)                                                            C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 NA                                                                            --      1.38       2.54                                         (*)                                                                           C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 NA                                                                            0.02    0.12       5.52                                        Benzene         --      4.11       5.10                                        Toluene         2.01    3.08       5.12                                        Ethylbenzene    14.85   8.22       5.79                                        p-Xylene        9.18    19.49      17.62                                       m-Xylene        56.45   44.49      40.22                                       o-Xylene        17.44   17.76      16.05                                       C.sub.9 aromatics                                                                              0.05    0.70       1.71                                        C.sub.10.sup.+  aromatics                                                                      --      0.22       0.33                                        PX approach to                                                                 equilirium (%)          101.0      101.1                                       FB decomposition                                                               ratio (%)               44.6       61.0                                        Xylene loss (%)         1.54       11.0                                        EB decomposition                                                               ratio/xylene loss       29.0       5.5                                         Deethylation ratio (%)  79.0       88.5                                        Amount of                                                                      demethylaction                                                                 (mmole)                 6.63       19.55                                       Amount of C.sub.6.sup.+                                                        naphthenes                                                                     formed (wt. %)          0.06       4.24                                        C.sub.6 naphthenes/                                                            benzene (wt. %)         0.20       14.01                                       ______________________________________                                          NA: nonaromatics composed mainly of paraffins and naphthenes.                  ##STR1##                                                                       ##STR2##                                                                       ##STR3##                                                                       ##STR4##                                                                       Amount of demethylation = (the total amount in moles of toluene and            C.sub.7 naphthene formed) - (the amount in moles of C.sub.9 aromatics          formed)                                                                        The abbreviations means the following.                                         [PX].sub.F : the concentration (wt. %) of pxylene in the three isomers of      xylene in the feed                                                             [PX].sub.P : the concentration (wt. %) of pxylene in the three isomers of      xylene in the product                                                          [PX].sub.E : the equilibrium concentration (wt. %) of pxylene in the           xylene isomers at the reaction temperature                                     [EB].sub.F : the concentration (wt. %) of ethylbenzene in the feed             [EB].sub.P : the concentration (wt. %) of ethylbenzene in the product          [X].sub.F : the concentration (wt. %) of the three xylene isomers in the       feed                                                                           [X].sub.P : the concentration (wt. %) of the three xylene isomers in the       product                                                                  

EXAMPLE 3

The powdery catalysts B-5, D-4, E, E-2 and F-1 obtained in Example 1 were molded, calcined and reduced in the same way as in the catalysts A and A-2 described in Example 2, and used in the isomerization of xylene under the same reaction conditions in the same reactor using the same starting material as in Example 2. The various data obtained after a lapse of 70 hours from the initiation of feeding were as shown in Table 3. The definitions of these data are the same as in Example 2.

It is seen as in Example 2 that when Ba, In, Ti and Cd were added, (1) the isomerization activity and the deethylation activity of Pt are not degraded, and (2) the activity of hydrogenating the benzene ring and demethylating xylenes is inhibited.

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________                      Catalyst                                                                       E   B-5  E-2 D-4 F-1                                                           (Pt)                                                                               (Pt, Ba)                                                                            (Pt, In)                                                                           (Pt, Ti)                                                                           (Pt, Cd)                                     __________________________________________________________________________     PX approach to equilibrium (%)                                                                  100.9                                                                              102.0                                                                               103.0                                                                              101.6                                                                              102.3                                        EB decomposition ratio (%)                                                                      60.2                                                                               52.3 50.5                                                                               46.2                                                                               52.0                                         Xylene loss (%)  5.59                                                                               3.93 1.53                                                                               1.23                                                                               1.32                                         EB decomposition ratio/xylene loss                                                              10.8                                                                               13.3 33.0                                                                               37.6                                                                               39.4                                         Deethylation ratio (%)                                                                          91.4                                                                               80.8 83.6                                                                               87.6                                                                               85.2                                         Amount of demethylation (mmol)                                                                  7.32                                                                               10.22                                                                               5.43                                                                               5.55                                                                               3.88                                         Amount of C.sub.6.sup.+ naphthenes formed                                      (wt. %)          3.18                                                                               0.54 0.08                                                                               0.39                                                                               0.05                                         C.sub.6 naphthenes/benzene (wt. %)                                                              21.40                                                                              3.09 0.59                                                                               3.34                                                                               0.27                                         __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 4

Benzene was hydrogenated in a fixed bed reactor using the same catalysts A, A-2, B-5, D-4, E, E-2 and F-1 as described in Examples 2 and 3. The reaction conditions were as follows:

Temperature: 200° C.

Weight hourly space velocity: 8.0 hr⁻¹ (based on the weight of zeolite)

Hydrogen/benzene mole ratio: 1:1

Pressure: atmospheric pressure

Feed stock: 99.98 wt. % benzene

The conversion of benzene in 2 hours after the initiation of feeding is shown in Table 4.

FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows the relation between the amount of liquid non-aromatics (at least 99 wt. % of which consisted of C₆ naphthenes) formed by the hydrogenation of benzene under the aforesaid reaction conditions at atmospheric pressure and the amount of the hydrogenation products (C₆ ⁺ naphthenes) of xylenes obtained in the isomerization of xylenes under the reaction conditions at elevated pressure described in Examples 2 and 3. A positive correlation is seen between the two. This shows that the metal (b) which inhibits the formation of naphthenes during the isomerization of xylenes under elevated pressure inhibits the hydrogenation of benzene at atmospheric pressure.

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                                                   Non-aromatics                                                      Type of     in the product                                       Catalyst      metal (b)   (wt. %)                                              ______________________________________                                         A             None        10.90                                                E             None        4.86                                                 A-2           Sn          0.45                                                 B-5           Ba          0.25                                                 D-4           Ti          0.24                                                 E-2           In          0.11                                                 F-1           Cd          0.05                                                 ______________________________________                                          Non-aromatics in the product: only liquid nonaromatics without gaseous         nonaromatics.                                                            

EXAMPLE 5

The powdery catalysts described in Table 5 which were obtained in Example 1 were molded, and calcined in the same way as in Example 2. In an fixed bed reactor, the same benzene as used in Example 4 was hydrogenated under the same reaction conditions as shown in Example 4. The results are shown in Table 5.

As seen in Table 5, the addition of the metals (b) leads to the inhibition of the activity of hydrogenating the benzene ring. It is clear from FIG. 1 that the amount of C₆ ⁺ naphthenes in the xylene isomerization products decreases, and the loss of xylenes can be reduced.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                     Type of     Liquid non-aromatics                                   Catalyst    metal (b)   in products (wt. %)                                    ______________________________________                                         A           None        10.90                                                  A-1         Ge          1.98                                                   A-3         Pb          4.89                                                   A-4         Cr          2.59                                                   A-5         Mo          2.88                                                   A-6         W           5.23                                                   A-7         Os          4.09                                                   A-8         Pd          4.04                                                   B           None        7.92                                                   B-1         Sr          2.80                                                   B-2         Br          4.26                                                   B-3         Ga          2.20                                                   B-4         Ce          4.40                                                   C           None        1.05                                                   C-1         Y           0.74                                                   C-2         Zr          0.65                                                   D           None        3.37                                                   D-1         Rb          0.47                                                   D-2         Cs          0.47                                                   D-3         Zn          2.46                                                   E           None        4.86                                                   E-1         Li          2.23                                                   E-3         La          1.46                                                   G           None        5.55                                                   G-1         Hg          0.79                                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 6

Xylenes were isomerized at atmospheric pressure using the same catalysts as used in Example 5.

The catalysts were calcined and reduced in the same way as described in Example 5. The reaction conditions were a temperature of 380° C. and a WHSV of 6 for the catalysts B and B-1, and a temperature of 350° C. and a WHSV of 8 for the other catalysts. The other reaction conditions were the same as in Example 5, and the feed stock was the same as that used in Example 2.

After a lapse of 20 hours from the initiation of the feeding, the characteristic values of the reaction defined in Example 2 were as shown in Table 6.

It is seen from Table 6 that when the metals (b) shown in Table 6 are added to the platinum-ZSM-5 catalyst, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The ability of the catalyst to isomerize xylenes is retained almost completely.

(2) The ability of deethylating ethylbenzene, which is inherent to platinum, is not degraded.

(3) The activity of platinum itself to demethylate xylene is inhibited.

Taken together with the fact shown in Example 5, it is evident that by adding the metals (b) shown in Table 6 (the same as those shown in Table 5) to the Pt-ZSM-5 catalyst, there can be obtained catalysts for isomerization of xylenes, which greatly reduce the loss of xylenes.

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________              PX approach                                                                           EB decom-     Deethyl-                                                  to equili-                                                                            position                                                                             Xylene  ation                                                                               Demethyl-                                        Metal                                                                              brium  ratio (A)                                                                            loss (B)                                                                               ratio                                                                               ation                                       Catalyst                                                                            (b) (%)    (%)   (%)  A/B                                                                               (%)  ratio (%)                                   __________________________________________________________________________     A    None                                                                               98.8   51.6  1.45 35.6                                                                              94.1 64.9                                        A-1  Ge  99.8   52.5  0.98 53.6                                                                              93.9 46.2                                        A-3  Pb  98.9   40.5  0.52 77.9                                                                              90.8 18.5                                        A-4  Cr  98.4   41.9  0.56 74.8                                                                              91.6 32.4                                        A-5  Mo  99.2   39.1  0.55 71.1                                                                              88.5 23.2                                        A-6  W   99.7   42.5  0.58 73.3                                                                              90.9 26.3                                        A-7  Os  99.5   49.0  0.82 59.8                                                                              94.0 44.8                                        A-8  Pd  100.3  48.0  1.12 42.9                                                                              93.5 62.5                                        B    None                                                                               100.8  90.0  4.77 18.9                                                                              98.7 62.3                                        B-1  Sr  101.0  80.2  2.58 31.1                                                                              98.7 58.1                                        B-2  Be  101.3  43.0  0.84 51.2                                                                              90.4 40.7                                        B-3  Ga  100.8  32.7  0.53 61.7                                                                              90.7 13.4                                        B-4  Ce  100.9  51.6  0.98 52.7                                                                              93.9 41.5                                        C    None                                                                               100.9  46.8  0.86 54.4                                                                              91.9 37.0                                        C-1  Y   100.9  48.6  0.71 53.4                                                                              91.8 38.3                                        C-2  Zr  101.1  51.0  1.00 51.0                                                                              92.7 38.4                                        D    None                                                                               100.9  45.6  0.86 53.0                                                                              93.1 42.9                                        D-1  Rb  100.2  35.1  0.55 63.8                                                                              87.3 26.8                                        D-2  Cs  100.4  43.8  0.82 53.4                                                                              90.5 39.5                                        D-3  Zn  100.1  35.4  0.48 73.8                                                                              88.0 29.1                                        E    None                                                                               98.4   46.3  0.87 53.2                                                                              93.3 66.0                                        E-1  Li  101.4  47.3  0.63 75.1                                                                              91.9 46.3                                        E-3  La  99.5   43.1  1.22 35.3                                                                              85.9 33.6                                        G    None                                                                               97.3   43.2  0.62 69.7                                                                              91.3 53.3                                        G-1  Hg  94.5   40.8  0.60 68.0                                                                              89.4 51.0                                        __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 7

Chromatographic alumina gel (300 mesh) was added to each of the powdery catalysts H, H-1 and H-2 obtained in Example 1 in a weight ratio of 1:1. They were fully mixed and molded into a product having a size of 10 to 20 mesh. The molded product was calcined in air at 450° C. for 8 hours, and subsequently, reduced in a stream of hydrogen at 400° C. for 2 hours.

Benzene was hydrogenated using the resulting catalyst by the same method and under the same conditions as described in Example 4. The conversion for benzene in 2 hours after initiation of feeding was as shown in Table 7. Subsequently, xylenes were isomerized by the same method and under the same conditions as described in Example 6. The characteristic values of the reaction after a lapse of 5 hours from the initiation of feeding were as shown in Table 8. The definitions of the characteristic values of the reaction were the same as those given in Example 2.

It is seen from Table 8 that when the Sn/Pt atomic ratio is too low, the effect of inhibiting the activity of hydrogenating the benzene ring is insufficient, and on the other hand, if it is too high, the activities of isomerizing xylenes and decomposing ethylbenzene decrease.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Catalyst          H        H-1      H-2                                        ______________________________________                                         Sn/Pt atomic ratio                                                                               0        0.33     3.3                                        Conversion of benzene (%)                                                                        17.4     14.1     0.3                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Catalyst          H        H-1      H-2                                        ______________________________________                                         PX approach to equilibrium (%)                                                                   98.9     99.2     90.5                                       FB decomposition ratio (%)                                                                       49.0     45.5     34.5                                       Xylene loss (%)   2.19     0.58     0.31                                       Deethylation ratio (%)                                                                           93.0     91.1     85.8                                       Demethylation ratio (%)                                                                          70.8     29.0     --                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 8

The catalysts I, J, K and L described in Table 1 prepared by the method of Example 1, (b) except that the concentration of platinum was varied were molded and calcined by the same method as described in Example 2. Each of the catalysts was filled in a fixed bed reactor, and reduced at 400° C. for 2 hours. Subsequently, benzene was hydrogenated under the same conditions as described in Example 4 using each of the resulting catalysts. Subsequently, under a temperature of 350° C. and WHSV of 6 and using the same feed stock as used in Example 6, xylenes were isomerized under atmospheric pressure. The results are shown in Table 9.

It is seen from Table 9 that the activity of platinum to hydrogenate the benzene ring was almost saturated at a platinum concentration of 0.3%, and the demethylating activity alone increases with an increase in the concentration of platinum. Hence, the preferred concentration of platinum is not more than 1%.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Catalyst       I        J       K      L                                       ______________________________________                                         Concentration of Pt                                                                           0.03     0.07    0.29   1.31                                    (wt. %)                                                                        Hydrogenation of benzene                                                       Liquid non-aromatic                                                                           0.10     0.66    10.3   10.5                                    in the product (wt. %)                                                         Isomerization of xylenes                                                       PX approach to                                                                 equilibrium (%)                                                                               104.7    103.9   104.0  103.3                                   FB decompositon                                                                ratio (%)      50.2     53.6    53.3   58.7                                    Xylene loss (%)                                                                               0.84     0.85    1.24   2.77                                    Deethylation ratio (%)                                                                        92.5     93.7    93.3   95.0                                    Demethylation ratio                                                            (%)            26.3     25.2    46.0   77.1                                    ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 9

The catalyst I described in Example 8 was filled into a fixed bed reactor, and the same xylene isomers as used in Example 2 was fed to the reactor under the following conditions.

Temperature: 380° C.

Hydrogen/hydrocarbon mole ratio: 3:1

Total pressure: 7.4 kg/cm². G

WHSV: as shown in Table 10

The data obtained after a lapse of 50 hours from the initiation of the reaction are given in Table 10.

It is seen from Table 10 that the loss of xylene decreases when the WHSV increases, but the PX approach to equilibrium, which is the most important in the isomerization of xylenes, decreases.

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         WHSV     8       12      15    20    25    60                                  ______________________________________                                         PX approach                                                                    to equili-                                                                     brium (%)                                                                               102.2   101.8   101.8 99.4  97.0  89.0                                FB decom-                                                                      position                                                                       ratio (%)                                                                               80      70      64.5  53.8  48.1  27.5                                Xylene                                                                         loss (%) 5.55    4.20    3.50  2.61  2.20  0.86                                Deethylation                                                                   ratio (%)                                                                               94.5    92.3    91.0  86.0  82.5  70.0                                ______________________________________                                     

What we claim is:
 1. In a process for isomerizing xylenes and selectively de-ethylating ethyl benzene contained in an aromatic hydrocarbon stock comprising mainly xylene isomers not attaining a thermodynamic equilibrium composition and ethyl benzene, which process comprises contacting said hydrocarbon stock with a catalyst composition containing a crystalline aluminosilicate at an elevated temperature in the vapor phase in the presence of hydrogen, the improvement wherein said catalyst composition comprises a crystalline aluminosilicate selected from the group consisting of zeolite ZSM-5, zeolite ZSM-11, zeolite ZSM-12, zeolite ZSM-35 and zeolite ZSM-38 having a silica/alumina mole ratio of at least 10, and containing at least two metals which are (a) platinum and (b) at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, zinc, gallium, germanium, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, tin, barium, cerium, tungsten, osmium, lead, cadmium, mercury, indium, lanthanum and beryllium.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said metal (b) is selected from the group consisting of tin, barium, titanium, indium, and cadmium.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein said catalyst composition contains platinum (a) in an amount of 0.001 to 2% by weight based on the weight of the crystalline aluminosilicate.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein said catalyst composition contains said metal (b) in an amount such that the atomic ratio of platinum to said metal (b) is in the range of from 1/0.01 to 1/10.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein said crystalline aluminosilicate has a silica/alumina mole ratio of from 20 to 1,000.
 6. The process of claim 1 wherein said isomerization is carried out at a temperature of from 250° to 450° C.
 7. The process of claim 1 wherein said isomerization is carried out at a hydrogen partial pressure of from 0 to 25 kg/cm². G.
 8. The process of claim 1 wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon stock is fed at a weight hourly space velocity of about 1 to about
 500. 9. The process of claim 1 wherein hydrogen is fed at such a rate that the mole ratio of hydrogen to said aromatic hydrocarbon stock is from 0.1/1 to 15.1.
 10. The process of claim 1 wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon stock contains at least 30% by weight, based on its total weight, of the xylene isomers.
 11. The process of claim 1 wherein at least 80% by weight of said aromatic hydrocarbon stock consists of the xylene isomers and ethylbenzene.
 12. The process of claim 1 wherein said catalyst composition contains 10 to 90% by weight of the crystalline aluminosilicate. 